Improvement in dredge-boxes



WILLIAM s. PoTwlN.

improvement in Dredge Boxes. l

N10. 123,792.- PatentedFelv).20,1872.

'INVENTU 'Zmfm ff 1 WJTNESSES l@ gil/9M UNITED STATES1 PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM S. POTWIN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO FRANK STURGES & CO., OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN DREDGE-BOXES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 123,792, dated February 20, 1872.

SPEemrcATroN.

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, WILLIAM S. PorWIN, of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State yof Illinois, have invented certain new and use ful Improvements in Dredge-Boxes 5 of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, which Willenable others skilled in the art to which my invention appertains, to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof, and in Which- Figure 1 represents a top or plan viewof a dredge-box having its perforated portion depressed for the reception of the sealing-disk. Fig. 2 represents a top or plan view of the sealing-disk; and Fig. 3, a side elevation of a dredge-box when sealed, the cap or cover being broken away so as to exhibit the form of the latter and the position of the sealing-disk thereon, as shown by a central vertical sectional view.

My invention relates to that class of cans which are intended for the reception ofspices. These cans have heretofore been made airtight, or as nearly so as possible, so that the spice shall lose none or little of its virtue after being sealed in the cans. The covers of these cans have also been perforated and a removable auxiliary cover used to seal the perforations so as to render the cans air-tight during transportation and eapableof being used as a dredge-box for domestic purposes. My invention consists in constructing the cap or cover of the box in one and the same piece, and so that its perforated portionfshall be depressed for the reception of the auxiliary cover or sealing-disk, which has an even hat surface and'w`hich`I/arnge over the perforations and in the slinken portion, so vas to effectually seal the box, and so that it is incapable of being removed, under ordinary circumstances, except by a pressure or blow applied to the under side of the cap or sealing-disk' for that purpose; the object of my invention being to attain the results above enumerated, and also to construct a box Which shall be neat in appearance and more cheaply manufactured.

In the drawing, A represents the dredgebox, made in the usual manner. B is the cap or cover. This cap is stamped out in one piece and perforated, the perforated portion being depressed as shown in Figs. l and 3. C is the auxiliary cover or sealing-disk, which is also stamped out of sheet metal in the form shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and its diameter is such that it will fit closely into the depressed portion of the cap B, as shown in Fig. 3. In order to firmly secure the auxiliary cap over the perforations in the position shown, the lower angle of the depression in the cover is made as nearly rectangular as possible. By means of a stamping-die or otherwise, the disk is then applied to the cover and the latter placed on a die or form, the top of the cover being upward. A punch or presser of the same or nearly thesame diameter asA the disk, is then forced down upon the disk; and the disk is thus firmly secured in its position and protected from accidental removal by the raised portion ofthe cap which surrounds it, thus effectually sealing the box.

VIf preferred, the cap may be constructed and sealed in the manner described and rigidly attached to the one end of the box by soldering or otherwise. It is then. effectually prevented from falling 0E when the can is used as a dredge-box. An ordinary removable and replaceable cap may, in the latter case, be applied to the other end of the box.

It may be here observed that the blank or disk C is made of the same diameter as the sunken portion of the cover, andso as to make a close fit therein, and is held therein byits friction against the sides of said sunken or depressed portion of the cover.

The seal or disk C is removed, wheny desired, by withdrawing the cover and inserting any suitable instrument through the perforations and thereby forcing the disk from its place, or when the metal is sufficientlyflexible, or when the box is made of tin, a pressure applied to the under side of the perforated portion of the cap Will remove the disk.v The advantage of making the cap or cover B in one and the same piece is, that in drawing up 7 the rim in a die the diameter of the rim will always be the same, thus securing a close fit upon the box and preventing. the spice fromlosing its virtue after being packed andthe cover from falling off when the can is used as a dredgebox; besides this, cheapness in manufacture and neatness in appearance are also secured.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, sind desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The perforated cap or cover Bmade in one V and the same piece, und having' its perforated portion depressed or surrounded by a ridge, in combination with the sealing-disk C zirrauged thereon Within said depression 0r ridge so as to seal the perforations, substantially :is`-

:md for the purpose specified.

The foregoing specification signed by me this 9th dey of January, A. D. 1872.

Witnesses: WILLIAM S. POTWIN.

N. C. GRIDLEY,

F. F. WARNER. 

